Mindy Williams waited for Lana until the warning bell went. Where was she? Lana had been Mindy’s best friend for the past four years. She knew Lana, and Lana never came late for anything, especially school. She must be sick, Mindy thought. But it was strange that her cellphone had been off all weekend. She waited as long as she could, and then headed in through the school’s gates.

At lunch, Mindy tried calling her friend again, but Lana’s phone was still off. Something was wrong; she could feel it. Mindy phoned Lana’s sister Ruby. She was surprised when Ruby answered, normally she didn’t.

“Yeah? What do you want?” Ruby asked. “I’m … busy.”

Mindy could hear a man’s voice in the background. Lana had told her Ruby was living with some older man – Mitch. Maybe it was him.

“I want to know if you know where Lana is,” Mindy asked. She couldn’t lie – she was frightened of Ruby. When Ruby was still at school with them everyone was. She liked fighting, and was good at it, but more than that, she was fearless. No-one frightened Ruby Fourie.

“Lana? How would I know? She’s at school is my best guess.”

“But she’s not. And her phone is off.”

Ruby listened now. “Maybe she’s at home sick. I’ll call Ma. Don’t be such a worry wuss, Mindy. This is real life, not one of those stupid crime novels you like reading.”

“I–” Too late, Ruby had hung up.

It didn’t matter what Ruby said, maybe this wasn’t a crime novel, but something was wrong. Mindy knew it. She just hoped Ruby would take it seriously. One thing Mindy knew from reading all of those crime novels was that time mattered. If a missing person was found quickly, they might be found alive. With each bit of passing time, the chances of finding a dead body grew.

* * * * *

Detective Jade Khan sat at her desk, her head fallen to its surface, her hands at her side. It was morning only in theory. Morning should come after a long, restful night. Since there had been no long, restful night because of her daughter Zoya, then this could not be so cruel as to call itself ‘morning’.

“Rough night?” Detective Debra Botha said as she sat down at her own desk. Jade sat up and wiped the drool from her chin. Had she fallen asleep? She hoped so.

“I will pay anyone to take this kid. Any amount,” Jade said to her partner.

“You would not,” Debra said.

“She’s got some bug. Vomiting all night.”

“She’s sick. Give the kid a break,” Debra said.

“My mother’s taken her to the doctor. Apparently it’s a flu going round. At least my mum has agreed I am useless and she’ll keep Zoya for tonight. I’m already dreaming about my bed.”

“You know, next time you see Kate, do me a favour and tell her this story,” Debra said. Kate was Debra’s life-partner.

“Is she still troubling you about adopting a kid?”

“Relentlessly. She’s talking about it being a deal breaker.”

Jade sat up properly. “Really? I didn’t know she was that serious.”

“She is. But so am I. I don’t want kids. She knew that when we met. Maybe you can share Zoya with her.”

“Gladly. I’ll put her on the roster. So far we have my mother, Owen, and John. I’ll soon be a parent with no child; not necessarily a bad thing.”

Jade noticed a young woman coming their way. She was about seventeen, wearing too much make-up, having too many piercings, and trailed by a man who was too old for her.

“Can I get some help?” the girl said. “I think my sister ran away.”

***

Tell us what you think: Is Mindy being over-anxious and worrying for nothing?